A new report indicates that if renewable energy continues on its upward thrust, over 2.7 million jobs in power generation worldwide could be created by 2030. The report issued by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) said, "A switch from coal to renewable electricity generation will not just avoid 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions, but will create 2.7 million more jobs by 2030 than if we continue business as usual."
If strong policies are implemented, a tipping point could be created within the RE industry with the study showing that the number of jobs in power generation could rise by more than 2 million to 11.3 million in 2030 with a surge in renewable jobs to 6.9 million from 1.9 million.
However, another situation presented by the study is a decline in the coal sector as a result of a wider mechanization which would decrease the number of jobs in the power generation industry by half a million to 8.6 million by 2030.
The report also stated that, for the first time in 2008, both the US and the EU added more capacity from renewable energies than from conventional sources including gas, coal oil, and nuclear power. It suggested the wind sector alone, for instance, could employ 2.03 million people in generating power in 2030 against about 0.5 million in 2010.
"The union movement, as well as the authors of this report, believe ambitious climate action by world leaders can and must be a driver for sustainable economic growth and social progress," Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said in a statement.